Publisher's Description

Susanne Carson's well-ordered family life is thrown into devastating chaos when Brianna, a young teen, appears on her doorstep, claiming to be the daughter of Susanne's husband, David. The revelation of David's apparent betrayal adds strain to an already fragile marriage. Will this shocking discovery drive the family apart, or will it draw them closer to God?

ChristianBookPreviews.com

The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell, begins with a shock and rift growing between characters. Susanne Carson is at home the day of her birthday, waiting for her children to return from school. Her husband David is the boss of his own construction company and away at work. Planning to be home late, he moves their date plans even later into the evening. That was the only thing on Susannes mind until the sound of a car racing away brought her out of her dozing and she moved to the door to see what all the commotion is about.

Standing at the door is Brianna, a fourteen-year-old without a mother. All her life she had been told that her father didnt want her, which had caused many problems between her and her mother. She has only a suitcase, and she claims that she is Davids daughter. Susannes mind spirals into a whirlwind of questions and fears.

Throughout the story, readers can see Davids connection with God along with how the family reacts to this unexpected and painful situation. But after the resurfaced memory of his cheating ordeal with another woman back when he and Susanne were engaged, Davids struggle is apparent. Pushing his wife farther from God because of his past mistake, David begs for forgiveness from her and prays that God will show her the way.

During all of this hectic rifting between the husband and wife, their children get to know Brianna and begin to value her. Over time, its obvious that Brianna needs to stay, but the parents still arent sure.

All in all, the story is well written. The twists and turns that take readers through the novel sustain interest while building suspense and curiosity about what will happen next. It is a clever plot idea, and I must applaud Ferrells writing style. This novel I would suggest for teenagers and older, as some of the things that happen throughout the book may not be acceptable for a younger audience. -- Eliza M. Schane, Christian Book Previews.com

The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell opens with a premise that kept me hooked to the satisfying end. A woman discovers her husband has another daughter when the girl shows up on her doorstep with a suitcase--on the woman's birthday. Surprise!David Carson has already had marital issues with his wife Susanne. She does not share his faith, and it has driven a wedge in their emotional intimacy. David has become a workaholic, and has missed celebrating her birthday the year prior, so he has some 'splaining to do. Added to this lovechild bombshell, he has agreed for Grandfather to visit them. Another surprise for Susanne.This family's struggles to come to terms with the husband's youthful indiscretion and to reach out to a child who needs them is drafted in authenticity and compassion. I lingered over this book, feeling what Susanne, David and Brianna--the other daughter--felt, and allowed their journeys to soak in like a gentle rain.This book will make you yearn for justice, and it will restore your faith in marriage and family.

A girls shows up on your birthday claiming to be your husband's daughter and puts you completely in shock. As events unroll all throughout this books, you see how everything one person does affects another and other people. Lessons on forgiveness, loving others with open arms, accepting God is in control, loving without judgment, and much more.Children sometimes are more readily able to love regardless than adults do as they don't foster the hurts. Lessons on how other people may even encourage us for the wrong. This book touched me in so many ways. Susanne was a Foster Parent. I have done Respic Care - babysitting for Foster Children. I also have been involved trying to get children out of a bad situation so Brianna's story truly touched a cord with me.Adults who have no feeling toward children or how to treat them. Uncle Arthur Warren was only interested in the Welfare money he could get if he could Brianna back. I have seen the Mother of my two step-grandchildren and their grandmother use them for only that reason. My heart broke so many times throughout this story. The end is a story of God's mercy, unconditional love, and bringing lives into his plan.

Wow! This book was an emotional one, but one that I love! Miralee definitely has a talent that is worth singing praises for. She knows how to pull characters together that won't be forgotten as well as a storyline that is both heartwarming and full of struggles. Miralee tells the story of young Brianna, a young teenager who's mother has passed on and she is left to go and live with a father she never grew up with. A father,named David, who has another wife and children. I really felt my heart being pulled to Brianna alot but the one that I felt the biggest pull to, was Susanne, David's wife. She doesn't share David's beliefs and I felt called to pray for her so many times through the story,especially when she found out her husband has another daughter...that's not hers! Not only that, but I was completely captured from the beginning, by Miralee's writing, and wasn't let go til I reached the very last page. This is one of those books that will have you smiling, praying and crying. You'll want to reach out and hug all the characters and tell them "hey, it will be okay. Just let God handle it for you!". With a powerful message of God's love, understanding and forgiveness, Miralee does a fantastic job of bringing to us a book that will hit home for so many people. Though, I didn't struggle in my life with a lot of the issues that were in this book, I could still relate to the characters in so many ways. It really hit home for me in a way that is just hard to explain. I will say, however, that this book is a must read for EVERYONE. It is a 5 star book that deserves to be recommended to everyone and an author who's talents should be praised! Well done, Miralee!

A truck rushing out the graveled drive way and then a knock, what in the world is going on. Susanne Carson goes to the door and opened to see a little girl standing there with a small suitcase. She wonders what to do, as there were no adults around so she invited the girl in. The little girl would not say much but she asked for David Carson, Susannes husband, what could she want with David.As the story progresses they let the girl stay with them until some relative could be found, but no one is looking for the girl. Susanne and Davids children like the girl but even though Susanne had kept foster children she just was not comfortable with this girl. David is a Christian but even though Susanne goes to church with the family she just does not feel that believing that God could take care of someone was possible.Susanne has a friend named Jena and that friend is not what she should be. She talks Susanne into drinking and not trusting her husband and that make things at home worse.As time goes on in the book, things begin to work out for the family but then another thing happens, the man that dropped Brianna off comes back to harass the family, everything blows up and they find themselves in court trying to keep the girl.I really like this story as one of my sons had to go to court to get his daughters and even got their sister that he was not the father of. Very nice Mialee and thanks to Kregel Publications for furnishing me a copy to read. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express are my own.

If you're looking for a great read that embodies all the elements of a book that will truly touch your heart, check out The Other Daughter. It is intriguing in that the story is told from the perspective of both husband and wife, and different in that the wife is a non-believer while the husband is a Christian with a long-ago indiscretion. The gut reaction of both main characters to the appearance of Brianna is understandable. Nothing is "pat" but they work through it together. How they do this is their story, and it's told in a thoroughly involving way. Sometimes you don't like the choices they make and want to shake some sense into them. But always, you root for them. This is part of what makes them such great characters and such a "real" story. The supporting characters are terrific, from Grandfather to Brianna, and David and Susanne's children. Susanne's friend, Jeena, has hidden demons that I know the author will address in another book. She is not a likeable character, but we all know a "Jeena." This in and of itself makes Jeena interesting, and makes the reader curious about her background and why she makes bad decisions and is so bitter.Stylistically, so many authors try to be too flowery or poetic. The Other Daughter is intelligently and thoughtfully written, but an easy read. It's a great book to absorb yourself into, as you're drawn into the world of Susanne and David. Without reiterating any more of the plotline as other reviewers have done, I will say that it moves and never lost my interest. The ends are tied up neatly, but that's the way this reader likes it. I'd like a little more of the romance element. However, love is shown in so many other ways - the loving portrait the author draws of how Susanne and David work through this situation together. THAT is the true test of love and marriage. Read it today! I highly recommend The Other Daughter.